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El Bolsón
The andean region of parallel 42 is the zone between the
towns of El Bolsón and Epuyén, of similar geographic
features. Parallel 42 is the border between Río Negro
and Chubut provinces. The main productive activities are
agriculture, forestry, and tourism. Farms with fine
fruit, hop and spread villages are often seen along
national route 258. El Bolsón, with more than18.000
inhabitants, is the gate to the region. As its name
suggests, it's a depression in the middle of the Andean
range, of only 300 m.o.s.l, which gives it a special
microclimate, with hot summers and light winds.
Precipitations are lower, so the vegetation is
transitional. The andean cypress forest is very much
developed here.
Brief history
The valley's geography allowed tehuelche people to go through
it. At the end of XIX century, when the last stage of the
"desert conquest" expelled the tehuelche tribe of cacique
Foyel, Chilean farmers coming from Chiloe island began to
settle down here. The town organized itself throughout the 30s
decade. When the railroad arrived to El Maitén, eastern order
of the region, europeans pioneers arrived for improving the
regional economy. A new wave of immigrants arrived at El
Bolson during the 70s, though quite different: the hippies.
They found in this region a natural paradise for being away
from the aggressive cities. Today you can observe this
influence on the famous craft fair.
Argentina:
Norte Neuquino,
Caviahue
- Copahue,
Villa Pehuenia,
Aluminé,
Junín de los Andes,
San Martín de los
Andes, Villa Traful,
Villa La Angostura,
Bariloche,
El Bolsón,
Lago Puelo,
El Hoyo,
Esquel,
Trevelin.
Chile: Pucón,
Villarrica,
Temuco,
Valdivia,
Puerto Montt
- Puerto Varas.
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